Here Are Some Tips To Prevent Drownings

SARASOTA, FL -- Living in Florida means year round access to water fun. Amid the splashing kids and many distractions of a busy swimming pool or beach, fun can quickly become a risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning takes approximately 4,000 lives every year and is the number one cause of accidental death among children under the age of five. It can happen in seconds, and children who drown often are out of sight for less than five minutes, according to a Safe Kids Worldwide report.

Coupled with its speed, drowning is often different then most people realize, without any splashing or crying for help.

Dr. Mayrene Hernandez, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Florida, shares what is more likely to happen. “Drowning rarely looks like it is portrayed on TV, with dramatic screaming and flailing. It is often the silent killer and quicker and quieter than most of us realize.”

A person in trouble may have his or her head above water one minute and be submerged the next, without anyone noticing.

Dr. Hernandez offers additional advice on how to help reduce risks associated with drowning and help keep kids splashing safely.

Avoid distractions

“I can’t stress enough the importance of constant surveillance,” says Dr. Hernandez. “While we all want time out at the pool or beach, getting distracted by a book, text or call can be detrimental to your children’s safety.” The CDC advises that those watching preschool-age children in the water provide “touch supervision,” which means being close enough to reach the child at all times. That’s true even if a lifeguard is present.

Assign responsibility

If you will not be present to watch your own child, pick a point person and assign responsibility. If kids are in the water, make sure they use the buddy system, especially when there is a group of mixed swimming abilities. Consider matching up experienced swimmers with those who may be less skilled.

Provide swimming lessons

Start exposure to water safety early. Children as young as 12 months — babies, really — should be taught basic lifesaving maneuvers. Anything that gives them a little bit of extra time to breathe, like flipping over on their backs, floating and moving through water, can save their lives. This can be a challenge in colder environments, but many recreation and community centers offer low-cost or free indoor lessons geared toward kids’ attention spans.

Obey warning signs at beaches

Pay attention to color-coded signs that alert you to rip tides and dangerous weather. You can’t always see the currents in open water, and cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia, which shocks the body and leads to rapid exhaustion.

Keep floats away

Despite what most people may think, floating devices, such as rafts, inner tubes and water wings can provide children with a false sense of security. Drowning can happen anywhere, even in a few inches of water so education and swimming lessons that include teaching the proper water survival and swimming skills is very important. “Children will typically venture out in the water and jump farther and higher when using floatation devices, which leads to becoming overconfident in their swimming abilities,” Dr. Hernandez warns.

One exception is the use of certified life jackets, particularly when doing water sports like kayaking and boogie boarding that involve different depths and currents. Safety is always paramount but also equally important is making sure you and your children are trained to understand the dangers and how to prevent them. Dr. Hernandez shares, “As a mother, this cause is near and dear to my heart. I wish I didn’t remember all of the little faces of victims I’ve seen on the news, but they all stand out to me. And the parents always say, ‘How could this happen so quickly?’ An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and may save your child’s life.”

Photos: 1) Getting babies and young children acclimated to water at a very early age without floatation tools is one of the best preventive measures to avoid a drowning. 2) Teaching children how to float and get on their backs in water is an excellent safety tool, particularly in the ocean or in a pool when they get tired. 3) Parents should keep a watchful eye on their kids with an older/younger child buddy system also being helpful when going into the ocean or pool.